Opening Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense

98 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Black pins the knight and immediately attacks White's central structure.

The opening usually invites White to occupy space, then challenges that center with piece pressure, pawn breaks, and flexible development.

In practice, the key is to know when to strike at the center and when to keep pieces flexible, because the wrong timing can leave the position passive.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: pressure on the center rather than immediate occupation.
  • Common plans include fianchetto setups and timely pawn breaks.
  • Best for players who like asymmetry and counterplay.
  • Study the transition from setup to active central challenge.

Choose a variation

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Carlsbad Variation
E23 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxd2
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit
E23 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation
E23 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxc5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation
E23 17 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8. Qc2 f5 9. g3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
E24 7 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Botvinnik Variation
E24 16 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. e3 O-O 8. cxd5 Nxd5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
E25 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation
E25 15 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation
E25 16 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
E26 11 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, O'Kelly Variation
E26 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 b6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
E27 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 O-O
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